MONTREAL — Most Canadians are familiar with MedicAlert bracelets – these recognizable pieces of jewelry help emergency responders quickly identify any medical conditions patients might have.
The MedicAlert Canada Foundation, the nonprofit organization managing this initiative, has been working towards updating its services recently and plans to implement new technology that will link its members’ electronic health records directly with 911 emergency operators.
If an operator gets an urgent call from a number, specialized software created by the organization promptly transmits a query to MedicAlert’s systems to check whether the telephone number is associated with a medical file stored in their database.
Should this occur, it immediately appears on the dispatcher’s computer screen.
“This entire process occurs in under a second,” stated Leslie McGill, the president of MedicAlert Canada.
Even before sending out an emergency response team, they can view all the relevant medical details and information contained within those records. This allows the first responders to be better prepared prior to arriving at the incident site.
McGill thinks this will significantly enhance how emergency calls are managed. For instance, she gives the scenario of a diabetic individual requiring urgent medical assistance. If an emergency responder could review this crucial health information prior to arriving at the scene, they would be more prepared to swiftly and efficiently tackle the immediate health issue.
“Everything revolves around time, and during a crisis, every second counts,” McGill stated.
Canada is currently rolling out Next Generation 911—a complete transformation described by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission that aims to offer faster and more readily available communication during crises.
The original deadline was set for March 2025, but it has been pushed back to March 31, 2027, following indications from most provincial, territorial, and municipal emergency service agencies that they wouldn’t manage to complete the required enhancements within the initially scheduled timeframe.
The MedicAlert Canada Foundation is collaborating with the CRTC and aims to implement the project in approximately 200 911 call centers nationwide within a timeframe of three to five years.
In 2024, the foundation conducted tests of the technology in Ottawa.
Prior to implementing the new technology in the city, MedicAlert’s round-the-clock emergency hotline fielded 172 calls from first responders over the course of a single year.
Throughout the trial phase, the computer system reviewed 8,000 distinct records.
“That’s quite a substantial figure,” McGill commented. The capital region boasts approximately 50,000 subscribers.
Certain municipalities have only recently started the process, whereas some are considerably advanced.
Constructing the system poses greater challenges in specific regions with inadequate phone services, like the territories or parts of northern Quebec and Ontario. However, major urban centers are prepared for implementation, and McGill mentioned their collaboration with Toronto.
The MedicAlert Canada Foundation is currently working on introducing a GPS device designed specifically for individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. They are also overseeing the MedicAlert Safely Home program—a nationwide registry aimed at assisting those with dementia who wander off—which includes over 65,000 entries stored within the Canadian Police Information Centre database.
McGill stated that the specialized GPS item should be prepared by 2026.
A challenge lies in the fact that the nonprofit organization does not have its services covered by health insurance in any Canadian province.
As a non-profit entity, we generate some of the necessary funds for our operations through service charges and digital health records,” explained McGill. “Considering the present economic climate and the uncertainties involved, it can be challenging for individuals to determine if they wish to cover these costs.
The Canadian branch is one of nine affiliates of MedicAlert Foundation, which has its headquarters in the United States.
Since 1961, over 1.5 million individuals across Canada have been assisted through MedicAlert services. Among the present 800,000 members, approximately one-quarter hail from Quebec, which has the second-largest membership base following Ontario.
The report from The Canadian Press was initially released on May 11, 2025.
The Canadian Press’s health reporting benefits from a collaboration with the Canadian Medical Association. However, CP maintains full responsibility for all content related to this initiative.
Katrine Desautels from The Canadian Press
